NEWS ARCHIVE

Two Day UK Symposium on Space Hazards.

Last Updated on Sunday, 02 May 2010 15:07

Published on Friday, 25 February 2005 00:00

Some of the leading British and European experts on the near-Earth environment will be speaking at a two-day symposium on space hazards which is being held on Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd October, 1998. The symposium will be held in the Whittle Lecture Theatre, DERA, Farnborough, Hampshire, and is sponsored by the Defence Evaluation Research Agency (DERA) and the British National Space Centre (BNSC), in collaboration with the British Interplanetary Society.

Near-Earth space is a dangerous place for manned and unmanned spacecraft at any time. Bursts of X-rays, ultraviolet radiation and energetic particles from the Sun, high energy cosmic rays and radiation in Earth’s Van Allen belts are all potentially life threatening hazards for automated and human space travellers. Furthermore, every year, some 200,000 tonnes of cosmic dust and boulders enter Earth’s atmosphere, while another 3,000 tonnes of man-made space debris sweep around the planet at around 17,500 mph.

However, this is a particularly appropriate time to hold such a meeting. * The threat to spacecraft is expected to peak dramatically in mid-November 1998 and also in November 1999 when the Earth passes close to the main swarm of the Leonid meteors. * Scientists’ ability to predict and issue advance warnings of solar storms heading our way should soon be restored when normal service resumes on board the SOHO spacecraft. * Solar flares and other activity are increasing as the Sun moves towards the peak in its 11-year sunspot cycle. * The first pieces of the International Space Station are scheduled for launch in late November. * The problem of how to safely dispose of the 120 tonne Mir space station looms ever nearer as the Russians consider how best to deorbit the huge structure next summer.

Highlights of the symposium include:21 October.* Professor Tony McDonnell of the University of Kent speaking about the effect of the Leonid meteors on spacecraft operations. * Dr Walter Flury of the European Space Operations Centre speaking about ways to reduce the effects of space debris. * Dr Richard Harrison of Rutherford Appleton Laboratory speaking about using the SOHO solar observatory satellite to predict radiation hazards.